Steam purifier discharge apparatus



July 5, 1932. w. J. HUGHES STEAM PURFIER DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l @Q u@ n. wm

July 5, 1932. w. 1. HUGHES STEAM PURIFIER DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, y1929 :s sheets-sheet' 2 Walen/f July 5, 1932. w. J. HUGHES 1,866,305

' STEAM PURIFIR DISCHARGE APPARATUS y Filed Feb. l, 1929 f 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. Hughes and others,

Patented July 5, 1932 l UNTED STATES WALTER J.

'PATENT ori-ICE HUGHES, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. TO GENERAL ZEOLITECOM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS Y STEAM IPURIFIER DISCHARGE APPARATUS' This invention relates to steam puriers and more particularly relates to means of re.- moving the collected water and impurities therefrom.

In the copending application of Walter Serial Number 188,104, filed May 2nd, 1927, there is disclosed a steam purier adapted to be placed within the steam space of a boiler and in which any moisture in the steam passing out of the boiler, is removed by a series of deflecting vanes, such moisture being collected in aV chamber in the lower part of such purifier.

It is desirable to remove the water and impurities, so collected from the steam, to a point outside of the boiler. The water carried by the steam generated in an ordinary boiler, and removed from such steam by a purifier, contains substantially the same impurities as the water in the boiler in about the same proportions. The more impure the water in the boiler, the more impure the steam will be due to increased turbulence, foaming or priming, accompanying the release of the i steam at the water surface. Also the greater the steaming rate the greater the amount of moisture and impurities that will be entrained, so that as a general rule in order to maintain. the steam of substantially constant quality it is desirable to have a lower boiler concentration at higher steaming rates than at lower steaming rates.. f

It readily follows that sincethe amount of water collectedby the purifier from the steam corresponds to the quantity and quality of the steam generated and since the quality decreases with higher solid concentration and higher steaming rates, the water Vremoved from the steam by the purifier is in reality a partial blow-down of the boiler and will increase with an increase in the solid concentration and with an increase in the rate of steammg. Y

Although the water collected by the steam purifier could be removed to the exterior of` the boiler in various manners, it has been the practice generally to have the'drain line from the collecting chamber'under thev steam purifier lead to a. steam trap, which is outside the boiler drum. After each discharge of the external steam trap, the trap chamber becomes filled with vapor. In order'to receiveV the next discharge from the purifier, the vapor in the trap must he displaced, and the usual escapement provided is back through .the drain line in the opposite direction to the flow of liquid tobe discharged. Since the pipe line which leads from the collecting -chamber of such steam purifier to the steam trap is of considerable length, and oftenl contains a number of bends and fittings, much difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a rapid gravity iiow of water to the trap against the return flow of the displaced vapor.

or steam. When alarge quantity of water issuddenly collected inthe chamber at the bottom of the purifier and ,covers vthe outlet end of the connecting pipe, the steam will pass out of the steam trap back into the boiler with considerable difficulty with the result that the collected water will not be removed as rapidly from the steam purifier as is necessary. As a result enough Water mayl collect in the steam purifier to cause a flooded and inoperative condition. f

An object of this invention is to provide a means by which the water from thecollecting chamber of the steam purifier will be discharged to the exterior of `the boiler by boiler pressure.

A further object of this inventionis to r provide an improved apparatus for discharging a. steam purifier.v

Other objects will appear during the course of the following description.

y In the preferred form of apparatus of the present invention the moisture and impurities collected by the purifier are conducted to a drain chamber adjacent to the purifier and within the boiler. This drain chamber may tion with the internal drain chamber, the

connection being such that'the liquid will rise to the same level in both'chalmbers. The external chamber cooperates with a` levely actuated mechanism, which is adapted to periodically remove the liquid from the purifier drain chamber.

In the drawings, Which show one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 represents a side section of a boiler shell showing the steam purifier and the improved dischargemechanism '5 Figures 2, 3 and 4 are detail views illustrating the various positions and functions of the mechanism which actuates the discharge apparatus;

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in which an enlarged internal drain chamber vis placed adjacent to one end of Athe boiler drum.

In Figure 1 Ythe boiler shell 11 is provided with the steam space 12 and contains a body of water 1.3. Itis provided with amain steam outlet 14, which outlet communicates With the Isteam purifier 15. The steam purifier is provided with steam inlets 16 from the steam space of the boiler 12, to the purifying elements 17, and With a steam outlet connection 18 Which communica-tes With the main steam outlet 14 of the boiler. Below the purifying element 17 are normally positioned collecting chambers 1 9 for the moisture and impurities removed from the ysteam in its passage through the purifier. One of the purifying' elements maybe provided with an enlarged drain chamber 20, which is adapted to receive separa-ted moisture and impurities from the other smaller collecting chambers 19 as Well as from its own purifying elements. The smaller collecting chambers 19 drain into the large ,collecting chamber 20 by means of the conduit 21. The enlarged .collecting or drain chamber 20 is emptied .by means of discharge conduit 22 which leads to the exterior of the boiler shell.

On the exterior of the boiler is positioned av small float chamber 40, which is placed at substantially the same level as the collecting chamber within the boiler. This float chamber 40 is provided With'a steam space 41, which communicates with the steam space 12 of the. boiler by means of the pipes 48 and 45, and With a Water space 42 which communi- ,Cates with the puriiier drain chamber 20 by means of the conduits 22, 44 and'46.

Within the float chamber 40 (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) is positioned af float 50, which is provided With a vertical. stem 51. This vertica-l stem 51 is pivotally attached to a rotating arm 52, which is provided with an enlarged portion 53 embracing ythe pivot rod 54. The enlarged portion 53 is provided with the ,contactportions 55 and 56. From the enlarged portion v53 is suspended a Weighted latch 57, which is pivotally attached to the portion 53 fat the point 58. The

' suspended latch 57 vis integrally provided adapted to contact With the roller 63 When in its lowest position.

Swinging about the pivot 54 is a vveight 5 provided with an arm 76. rihe hub portion 77 of the arm 76, which embraces the pivot rod 54, is provided with a projecting shoulder 78. This shoulder 7 8 is adapted to cooperate With the shoulder 60 on the swinging latch 57. Pivotally attached to .the arm 76 at the point 80 is another Ylatch 79. The latch 7 9 is provided With the roller 81 which is adapted to cooperate with the contact 56, and also with a Contact 82, which is adapted to cooperate with the contact 55. The upper part of the latch 79 is provided With a shoulder 83.

The shoulder 88 is adapted to cooperate with the horizontal portion of the bell crank lever 95, which lever is pivo'tally attached to the side of the fio-at chamber at the point 96. rPhe end of the vertical arm of the bell crank lever 9,5 is provided with a bifurcated portion 97, which fits upon and moves with the valve rod 98. The valve rod 98 is provided With a mushroom valve 99 and With a conical valve 100. These valves are adapted to admit steam at boiler pressure or air at atmospheric pressure to the chamber 101. The mushroom valve 99 is adapted to open or close the passage 102, While the conical valve 100 is adapted to open or close the passage 108. rlie valve rod 98 is provided With'a collar 104, which retains the spring' 105. This spring tends to keep the passage 102 open and the passage 108 closed. Thel inner end of the valve rod iits in a guide 106.

Communicating with the chamber 1 01 (see Figure 1`) are the pipes 115V and 116, leading yto the discharge valve 125. The conduit 126 communicates with the enlarged drain chamber by means of the pipes 22 and 44. rihe discharge is carried through the valve by means of the passages 127, '128 and 129 (see Figure 1). At the entrance of the passage 128 is the throttle Vvalve 182,l

which may be adjusted so as to control the rate of discharge Th eritvoi' the passage 12.8 is adapted to be closed by means of the valve 130 which is Vactuated by the piston 131.

Steam under boilerpressure is supplied to the piston 131 by means of the conduits 115 and 116 when the valve rod 98 is ill its norT mal position to the left, closing the passage 108 and opening. the passage 102, The discharge passage 138 is adapted to carry the discharge from the valve125 to a suitable place of disposal. The operation of the float and trip mechanisms is illustrated inFigu-res 2, 3 and The liquid .body 42 and the float chamber 40 communicate with the liquid body in the drain chamber 20 by means of the conduits 22, 44 and 46, and :the level Within the tivo chambers will be substantially they sameat all times. Figure` 2 illustrates the postions of the float and trip mechanisms just after the discharge has been completed. Figure 3 shows the apparatus just at the moment the discharge is about to commence. Figure 4 shows the positions of the various parts while discharge is taking place. In Figure 2 the float and the weight 75 are shown in their lowest positions. The shoulder` 83 of th latch 79 has just been thrown oil the end of the horizontal arm of the bell cranlr lever 95 by means of the` Contact pushing against the contact 82. The co-operation between the contacts 55 and 82 takes place just when the float 50 reaches its lowest position. As a result of the release of the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 95, the spring 105 moves the valves 99 and 100 to the left, opening the passage 102 and closing the passage 103. rlhe opening of the passage 102 into the chamber 101 admits steam under boiler pressure to the` piston 131 of the discharge valve 125 by means of the conduits 115 and 116. rihis closes the valve 130, cutting off the passage 127 from the passage 129 within the discharge valve. Both the piston 131 and the valve 130 are under boiler pressure, but since the piston 131 has a greater area than the valve 130, the valve will be closed when boiler pressure is admitted to the piston 131. This will stop the discharge through the line 22-44 126-133, and liquid will again collect in the chambers 20 and 40. During the downward mot-ion of the oat 50, the shoulderl of the swinging latch 57 will fall in position against y the shoulder 78 attached to the weight 75.

v about to be actuated so as to` open the discharge valve 125. It will be noted that both the ball float 50 and the weight 75 are in their highest positions, that the finger 61 of the swinging latch 57 has come into contact with the roller 63, that the shoulder 60 is being pushed off the shoulder 78, due to such contact, and finally that the vertical latch f' 79 has been caused to assume a position due to contact between the members 56 and 81 that it will cause it to engage the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever is moved downwardly. 1When the shoulders 78 land 60 are altogether disengaged the weight 75 will fall downwardly until it rests against the casing of the chamber 40. At the same time the vertical latch `7 9 will pull down upon the horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 95, moving the valve rod 98 to the right. rlhis willopen i the passage l103 and close the" passage 102, admitting 'atmospheric pressure to the .linel 115. `Then this takes place the boiler pres-I sure on the lett side of the valveV 130 will open the valve and permit a discharge to take place through the line V22--44-126-133. The discharge .will continue until a large amount of the collect-ed moist-ureand impurities is discharged, whereupon the Float 50 will have reac ied a suliiciently low level as to cause co-operation between the contacts 55 and 82, release of the valve rod 98, and a closure of the valve 125 in the manner hitherto described. `When the discharge is completed, a suilicient amount of water is retained within the chambers 20 and 40 so as to seal the openings kof the pipes 22 and 46 into these chambers. 4This will insure that no steam is blown out before the discharge valve makes its closure. v i

When is it desirable to operate the discharge valve 125 by hand, the valves 141, 142 and 143 may be closed and the valve 144 manually actuated. Valve 144 is a three way valve and is adapted to admit the atmosphere to the valve 125 by the line 1464-116 or boiler pressure by the line 43-145-146--116- It desired, however, lines 145 and 146 may be omitted and valve 142 replaced by a threeway valve. ln this case valves 141 and 143 would beleft open. A discharge could then be obtained by opening line 116 to the atmosphere even though the lloat chamber 42 and the collecting chamber 20 were not filled to the discharge level. Similar arrangements of three-way valves could also be utilized in connection with the lembodiments shown upon Figure 5.

, ln the modilication shown in Figure 5 the enlarged drain chamber 20 of Figure 1 has been replaced by anenlarged drain chamber 140 provided with a vent 148 to the steam space of the boiler. Thelarge drain chamber 140 is positioned toward one end of the boiler shell and t-hel trip mechanism is actuated by a level corresponding to the level in this enlarged chamber. v

ln the present arrangement the discharge of liquid and its entrained impurities from the purilier drain chamber is by boiler pressure. The discharge line is ordinarily entirely lilled with liquid and does not serve as a gravity discharge or as a return line for vapor from an external steam trap. The discharge of the liquid and impurities is quickly accomplished in an entirely positive manner when the discharge valve is open. In'this way it is possible to use a much smaller drain pipe, requiring a much smaller opening in the metal of the boiler head or shell. Since all moving` parts of the discharge mechanism are positioned outside of the boiler, they may be easily cleaned and repaired and also they may be made of standard sizes. Due to the fact that the discharge is made under boiler pressure and owing to the high Velocity through the discharge pipes, there. is no difficulty with clogging.

' What is claimed is:

l. In combination With a boiler, a steam purifier Within the steam space of the boiler, a drain chamber Within the boiler for ,collecting liquid separated by said purifier, ,a discharge line from said ydrain chamber eX- tending to Without the boiler, and means located outside the boiler for controlling said discharge line, said means being actuated by a level corresponding to the level Within said drain chamber.

2. In combination With va boiler, a steam purifier Within the boiler, a drain chamber Within the boiler for collecting liquid separated by said purifier, a discharge line from said drain chamber extending to Without the boiler, a valve on said line voutside the boiler, and means outside the boiler for periodically actuating said Valve to discharge said drain chamber, said means being actuated rby a liquid level corresponding to the liquid level of said drain chamber.

3. In combination With a boiler, a steam purifier Within the boiler, a drain chamber Within the boiler for collecting liquid separated by said purifier, a discharge line from said chamber extending to Without the boiler, a float chamber outside the boiler, a connection between the upper portion of said float chamber and the steamspace of the boiler, a connection between the lower portion of said float chamber and said discharge line, -a valve on said discharge line beyond the float chamber connection, a level-responsive float in said chamber, and means actuated rby said float for controlling said valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WALTER J. HUGHES. 

